Things to do in

Chivay

Get back to nature in the Andes mountains and look for condors, llamas and alpacas in their natural habitat. Marvel at the majestic landscape and remote towns along the way. Day 1: Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Arequipa, and then look for llamas, alpacas and vicuñas in the magnificent mountains of the Sacred Valley. Get breathtaking views of the Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu and Ampato volcanoes from the highest point of the Patapampa route, and then continue to Chivay (entrance town to Colca Canyon) and have lunch at a local restaurant. Then you will be dropped off in your hotel in Chivay Town. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Day 2: Depart Chivay in the early morning and make your way towards the stunning Cruz del Condor viewpoint. See the pretty towns of Coporaque and Maca and get in touch with nature on a short hike before your arrival at Cruz del Condor, where you will get an hour to watch the majestic birds in flight. All the excursion will be explained by the professional guide. On the way back have lunch in Chivay before continuing to Puno city, arriving to Puno city at 7:30 PM.

Embark on a 2-day trek to the Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and an incredible sight. Look out for more than 100 kinds of birds, over 300 types of plants and more than 30 types of cactus. Head to Condor’s Cross for the best viewpoint in South America for seeing the Andean Condor, a gracious bird that can have a wingspan of up to 3 meters and weigh up to 12 KG. Day 1: Arequipa - Chivay - Condor’s Cross - Sangalle After an early morning (around 3:00-3:30 AM) pick-up from your hotel, head to Cabanaconde in the Colca Canyon. This is approximately a 6-hour drive from Arequipa, and on the way you’ll stop for breakfast. Continue to Condor’s Cross for a panoramic view of the canyon and the famous Andean Condor. Arrive at the beginning of your trek and start a downhill hike for about 3-hour from 3,300 to 2,100 meters above sea level into the canyon. Upon arrival, have lunch and take some time to rest in San Juan de Chuccho. Continue your journey and pass by the towns of Cosñirhua and Malata. Hike further into the canyon until reaching Sangalle, the deepest part of the canyon and 1900 meters above sea level. Sangalle is a lush green oasis with a tropical microclimate and some simple accommodation. Here you can enjoy the swimming pool after a long day of hiking. Enjoy dinner and spend the night here Day 2: Sangalle - Cabanaconde - Chivay - Arequipa or Puno Leave early morning (around 5:00 AM), and start hiking uphill for about 3-hour back to Cabanaconde town using torch lights for illumination. Enjoy spectacular views of the sunrise and eat breakfast upon arrival at Cabanaconde.  Head towards Chivay, viewing pre-Inca terraces, archaeological ruins, and colonial towns on the way. Around noon, arrive at the hot springs. Optionally take a dip in the hot springs and relax in waters of 38°C. In Chivay, have a buffet lunch in a local restaurant (not included). After lunch, start your return to Arequipa. On the way, you will descend from 4830 to 2325 meters above sea level, passing by a national reserve and Pampa Cañahuas. This is is a habitat for the four species of South American camelids (llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco). Arrive in Arequipa late afternoon and be dropped you off next to Santa Catalina Monastery. If you choose the option to be dropped off in Puno, you will leave from Chivay after having lunch. You’ll arrive around 6:45 PM in Puno. You will also make a stop in Pampa Cañahuas to have great views of the local landscapes.

You'll be picked up around 3:00-3:30 AM from your hotel. After a 4-hour drive, stop in Chivay to have breakfast. Walk an easy trek for about 1 hour to arrive at the Condor’s Cross. Appreciate impressive views of the Colca Canyon and watch the majestic Andean Condor flying overhead.  On your way back to Chivay, explore Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque, three small local villages which have colonial churches, tombs and Pre-Incan terraces. Your next stop will be at a hot spring, before having a buffet lunch at a local restaurant in Chivay at your own expense. On the way back to Arequipa,visit Patapampa, an incredible viewpoint where you can see the Ampato, Sabancaya and Hualca Hualca volcanos. This is also the highest point that you will reach, with an altitude of 4800 meters above sea level. At the end of the tour, you'll be dropped off next to Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa. If you choose the option to be dropped off in Puno, you will leave from Chivay after having lunch. After several hours of travelling, arrive around 6:45 PM in Puno. You will also make a stop in Pampa Cañahuas to have great views of the local landscapes.

Enjoy pick-up in Arequipa on this 2-day Colca Canyon Tour, then passing through the vast Salinas and Aguada Blanca Nature Reserve. See llamas, alpacas and vicuñas in their natural habitat. Stop at Patapampa, at 4,900 meters above sea level. Get breathtaking views of the Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu and Ampato volcanoes from the highest point of the Patapampa natural viewpoint. Continue to Chivay town for lunch (if option selected). After lunch, check in at your hotel, with some free time to adapt to the altitude. Early the next day, head to the Cross of the Condor. See the pretty towns of Coporaque and Maca and get in touch with nature on a short hike,  before your arrival at Cruz del Condor. At this natural viewpoint you’ll be able to see the amazing bird in flight. Your guide will tell you about the behavior of the condor. Return to Chivay for lunch (if option selected) before the drive to Arequipa, returning approximately 5:00 PM.

Enjoy early morning pickup at your hotel or accommodation in Arequipa, from where you will travel to the incredible Colca Canyon. After arriving to this natural habitat of the giant Andean condor, you will begin your all-day tour of this incredible area. Stop for breakfast in the charming town of Chivay and travel through the Andes villages before reaching the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Once there, walk to the viewpoint and see the views of the surrounding landscape. Cross the Patapampa Pass and admire the beautiful flora and fauna of the area, where you'll also see the peaks of the Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu, and Ampato volcanoes. Following the tour you will have the option to go to the La Calera Hot Spring. At the conclusion of your tour the bus will return you back to to the city of Puno, where you will be dropped off to the main square at approximately 7:30PM.

Pick-up from your accommodation in Arequipa around 3:00 AM to start your journey to one of the deepest canyons in the world, taking the Yura road, bordering the Chachani mountain towards Pampa Cañahuas (Aguada Blanca and Salinas National Reserve)  habitat of the beautiful South American camelids, the vicuñas. At approximately 6:00 AM, arrive at the town of Chivay; where you will enjoy your breakfast and then continue your drive for about 1 hour to arrive at Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor, strategic point of observation of the Canyon and the spectacular flight of the Condor. On return, stop in the villages of Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque that have beautiful colonial churches. From the viewpoints of Choquetico and Antahuilque, observe the impressive andenería of the valley, the pre-Inca tombs and a pre-Inca model of the area carved in stone. Return to the town of Chivay for lunch and to rest walking through the little streets. Have the opportunity to enjoy the thermal baths in La Calera (optional) whose thermos medicinal waters oscillate between 35 to 38 degrees (celsius) of temperature in which you will stay approximately 1 hour, return to the town of Chivay. At 2:00 PM start your drive back to Arequipa, along the way, visit the highest point between the Colca Canyon and Arequipa: Patapampa (4800 meters), from this place see the volcanic mountain range. You will be back at your accommodation in Arequipa around 5:00 PM.

Travel to one of the deepest canyons in the world. Take the longest road in Yura, bordering the snowy Chachani mountain, towards Pampa Cañahuas Natural Reserve. Venture into the marshes of Tocra mountain, where you will see a variety of migratory birds, including flamingos. Pass by the crater of Chucura, a dormant volcano.  Stop at mirador de los volcanes, a viewing point where you can observe the western mountains. Arrive at the village of Chivay and journey to another viewing point, where you can watch the flight of the condors. Explore the villages of Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque on your way back. Enter into their beautiful churches and view the picturesque landscapes of the terraces in the valley.  Enjoy a thermal bath in La Calera Thermal Waters, where you will stay for an hour. Return to the town of Chivay and indulge yourself with a traditional lunch, before you depart for the city of Arequipa. 

Enjoy a Peruvian adventure seeing wildlife and natural wonders on this two-day tour from Arequipa to Puno.  Day 1: Arequipa to Chivay (Colca Canyon) In the morning, you will be met you at your hotel and taken on a stunning 4-hour journey to Chivay. Make sure to have your camera ready as you will stop at some incredible viewpoints including the Pampa Cañahuas Reserve. The reserve is home to many exotic Andean animals including vicuñas, alpacas, llamas, flamingos, ibis and the Andean eagle. You will see astounding landscapes as you drive past lakes, glaciers and some magnificent volcanoes, such as Ampato, Sabancaya, Huallca and Misti. You will reach the journey’s highest point of 4,800 meters (15,000 feet). In the afternoon, you will have a number of options to spend time at leisure. Stay at Chivay overnight. Day 2: Colca Canyon Tour and Tourist Coach to Puno You will be picked up from your hotel very early in the morning and taken to the most scenic places in the Colca Canyon. Your picturesque journey leads to the Mirador Cruz del Condor, the most famous viewing point to look into the depths of the Colca Canyon. Here, the canyon is around 1,200 meters deep, and you will have good chance to see a few condors flying, with the amazing canyon scenery in the background. From Chivay, the journey continues in a comfortable tourist coach to Lake Titicaca, the birthplace of the first Inca, Manco Capac. Along the way, you will be able to appreciate the scenic beauty of the Andes as you pass by lakes, lagoons, trout farms and Andean flamingos. When you reach the altitude of 4,850 meters (12,000 feet), you will have an unbelievable view of the highlands, before heading into Puno.

Day 1: Arequipa - Condor’s Cross - San Juan de Chuccho Early morning pickup around 3:00-3:30 AM from your hotel. After driving for around 4 hours, stop in Chivay to have breakfast. Then, continue to one of the most popular points of the canyon, the Condor’s Cross. Stop for about 40 minutes to watch the condor flying. Drive for 20 more minutes to where your trek downhill begins. Hike downhill for approximately 4 hours until you reach San Juan de Chuccho. Have lunch, dinner and sleep overnight in the village of San Juan de Chuccho.  Day 2: San Juan de Chuccho - Malata - Sangalle Departure around 8:00 AM after breakfast. Continue hiking and pass by Cosñirhua town, where it is possible to see archaeological ruins left by Pre-Incan cultures. Reach Malata town and its old Spanish church. Then, continue hiking further into the canyon, until you reach Sangalle, the deepest part at an altitude of 1900 m. Sangalle is a lush green oasis with a tropical microclimate. Here you can enjoy the swimming pool after a long day of hiking. In the evening, have dinner and sleep overnight. Day 3: Sangalle - Cabanaconde - Chivay - Arequipa or Puno Leaving early morning around 5:00 AM, start hiking uphill for about 3 hours back to Cabanaconde town using torch lights. This part of the trek can provide spectacular views of sunrise. Have breakfast upon arrival, then head to Chivay. On the way, have a great view of pre-Inca terraces, some archaeological ruins and colonial towns. Around noon, arrive at the hot springs with water temperatures of 38°C, where you can relax in a warm bath. In Chivay, you can opt for a buffet lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, start your return to Arequipa. On the way, you will descend from 4830 meters to 2325 meters passing by a national reserve with llamas and alpacas. Arrive in Arequipa late afternoon and be dropped off next to Santa Catalina Monastery. If you choose the option to be dropped off in Puno, you will leave from Chivay after having lunch. After several hours travelling, arrive around 6:45 PM in Puno. You will also make a stop in Pampa Cañahuas to have great views of the local landscapes.

Enjoy early morning pick-up from your hotel or accommodation in Arequipa and travel to the incredible Colca Canyon. Arrive at the natural habitat of the giant Andean condor and look forward to a full-day tour of the breathtaking site. Stop for breakfast in the pleasant town of Chivay and travel through the towns of the Andes, before reaching the Mirador Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Take a short hike up to the viewpoint and experience picturesque views of the surrounding natural landscape. Cross the pass of Patapampa and admire the stunning flora and fauna of the Andes. View the peaks of the Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu, and Ampato volcanoes. Return to Arequipa at approximately 5:00 PM and be dropped off in the main square.